Published on mar 19, 2018 mary whitmer hosted many early saints during the translation of the book of mormon and when the church was formally organized at. Mary whitmer 17781856 and her family hosted joseph smith, emma smith, and oliver cowdery as joseph completed the translation of the book of mormon in june 1829. When olivers hand and josephs eyes grew tired they went to the woods for a rest. Without mary whitmers support, the translation of the book of mormon would have come to a screeching halt. Emma worked as a scribe for joseph at certain points, but did not see the plates. Mary whitmer cheerfully sacrificed everything at her means to help the prophet joseph smith work on the translation of the sacred plates that were published as the book of mormon. Oliver cowdery, one of the three witnesses and the principal scribe during its dictation, baptized her into the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in seneca lake on april 18, 1830, when the church was less than two weeks old, and he married her daughter, elizabeth ann, in december 1832.
Thus moronis intervention was perhaps more purposeful than we might have previously thought. It was here that three men were chosen as special witnesses and granted the opportunity to converse with an angel, view the plates, and hear the witness of god in regards to the book of. Elisabeth westwood introduces mary s story and explains how its spoken to her as she has dealt with depression. Mary whitmer hosted many early saints during the translation of the book of mormon. Baptized into church of jesus christ of latterday saints by oliver cowdery, 18 apr. A witness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. Mary was visited by a stranger person who showed her the plates of gold and encouraged her to be patient in her labors. Considering the time and circumstances, it is likely that the women of the whitmer family, perhaps mary herself, made the string used to bind the manuscript. Mary whitmers home became a place of refuge for joseph and emma. What does mary whitmer teach us about enduring trials. Oliver cowdery, one of the three witnesses and the principal.
She is the only woman reported to have seen the golden plates associated with the book of mormons. I have heard my grandmother mary musselman whitmer say on several occasions that she was shown the plates of the book of mormon by a holy angel, whom she always called brother nephi. Oliver cowdery joseph smiths scribe and who was also married continue reading mary whitmer. Church history is a treasuretrove of miracles, and this one is equal parts mysterious and amazing. Mary whitmerwitness of the book of mormon one people. She undoubtedly refers to moroni, the angel who had the plates in charge. Mary was the mother of five sons who were witnesses to the golden plates. Mary whitmer, with five grown sons and a husband to care for, besides visitors, often grew tired. Mary musselman whitmer august 27, 1778 january 1856 was baptized into the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, inadvertently called the mormon church, on april 18, 1830, shortly after the church was organized. Mary whitmer mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Mary musselman whitmer a witness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. Cox has graciously provided me with a new account of moroni showing the book of mormon plates to mary whitmer 17781856, wife of peter whitmer senior. Home latest updates mary whitmerwitness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778.
Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon, he wrote. Published on apr 14, 2016 this artistic film portrays the efforts of mary whitmer at home during the residency of joseph smith in her home during the book of mormon translation project. This is a critics response to fairs defense of whitmer s statement if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. She was a strong believer in the book of mormon until the day of her death. These three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris wrote that they were shown the plates by an angel who also attested to them that joseph smith translated the book by the gift and power of god. In honor of lyne hilton wilson, book of mormon central recently commissioned this work, mary whitmer and moroni by robert t. Mary musselman whitmer august 27, 1778 january 1856 was the wife of peter whitmer, sr. Peter and mary whitmer allowed joseph smith and oliver cowdery to live in their home in june 1829 so the two men could complete the translation of the book of mormon. Another account of mary whitmers viewing of the golden plates. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Other than the three and eight witnesseswho included her sonsshe.
Christian whitmer, one of the book of mormon witnesses and the eldest son of peter whitmer, had married anna schott in 1825. The string that bound the book of mormon manuscript reminds us to celebrate the unsung contributions of early saints such as mary whitmer. When we think about the witnesses of the book of mormon, we tend to think in the names that appear at the beginning of the book who bear testimony of the divinity of the plates and who are somehow very closely related to each other. Mary s experience probably predated that of the 11 witnesses correct me if im wrong, history buffs. Rfm post by lds critic on fairs defense of whitmer. It is one of the most sacred sites of mormonismthe peter whitmer cabin in fayette, new york. Plainly, the lord still follows this pattern, and mary whitmer can justly be counted the 12th witness to the book of mormon.
Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret. The account of mary whitmer, matriarch of the whitmer family, may be the most remarkable of all, not only because its details are practically identical to what was experienced by the three witnesses, but because it predates that affidavit by several months mary whitmer s encounter is described in three separate accounts. Mary whitmer was the only woman that i am aware of that saw the plates directly. When christian died in clay county, missouri, in 1835, anna was left a. Mary whitmer witness of the book of mormon home mary whitmer witness of the book of mormon. Without mary whitmer s support, the translation of the book of mormon would have come to a screeching halt. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation. Another account of mary whitmer s viewing of the golden plates book. Mary whitmer 17781856 and her family hosted joseph smith, emma smith, and oliver cowdery as joseph completed the translation of the book of mormon. Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret news. Royal is also the author of an article from the interpreter.
In his youth, jacob was educated and learned hard work by helping to run the whitmer farm. According to jesus, in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established matthew 18. Harris as an unwitting witness of book of mormons veracity and physicality. In 1829, probably during june, she was caring for three boarders joseph smith, emma hale smith, and oliver cowdery in addition to her large household while the book of mormon was being translated. Mary musselman whitmer, the only woman who saw the plates of the book of mormon, was born aug. Mary was the only known woman to have actually seen the plates. They must have lived in close proximity to peter whitmer while the book of mormon was being translated. Peterson argues that a twelfth person, mary whitmer, also saw the plates. Mary musselman whitmer august 27, 1778 january 1856 was a book of mormon witness and the wife of peter whitmer, sr. The appearance of the messenger with the plates provided mary with spiritual and physical solace which she needed to help move the work forward. Four women in early church history mary musselman whitmer, lucy mack smith, lucy harris, and emma hale smithplayed significant roles in the coming forth of the book of mormon and offered their own witnesses of the plates reality. This article articulates the discovery of an additional account of mary whitmer s being shown the. Because of her faith and good works, she was priveledged to actually see the plates of.
Another account of mary whitmers viewing of the golden. David whitmer january 7, 1805 january 25, 1888 was an early adherent of the latter day saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the three. David whitmer had invited joseph and oliver to live in his fathers home while translating the book of mormon. The whitmer family historian, mary cleora dear, has performed an invaluable service by identifying upwards of 800 descendants of peter whitmer, sr. David whitmer, for example, one of the three witnesses, related that his mother, mary musselman whitmer, also saw the plates, quite. I love this miracle not just because it involves a faithful woman who was shown. Five of mary whitmers sons became official witnesses of the book of mormon.
Home mary whitmerwitness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. Elisabeth westwood introduces marys story and explains how its spoken. In honor of lyne hilton wilson, book of mormon central recently commissioned this work, mary whitmer and moroni by robert f. Mary whitmer, lucy mack smith, lucy harris, and emma smith aided in the translation of the book of mormon and offered their own witnesses of the plates reality. Through her son david whitmer, she and her family became acquainted with joseph smith, jr. Whitmer say on several occasions that she was shown the plates of the book of mormon by an holy angel, whom she always called brother nephi. Book of mormon witnessesother witnesses mary whitmer was about to order them out of her home. Matriarch of the whitmer family, influential members of the early mormon church. In the july 18, 20 edition of the deseret news, byu professor and mormon apologist daniel c. Witnesses to the book of mormon give insight to the translation process and physical reality of the plates. A journal of mormon scripture entitled another account of mary whitmer s viewing of the golden plates. As part of this disinformation campaign, book of mormon central commissioned a beautiful painting of the messenger showing the plates to mary whitmer.
Mary musselman whitmer a witness of the book of mormon. For information about visiting the whitmer farm, click or tap here. It was here that the book of mormon translation was completed. Mary whitmer, the twelfth witness of the book of mormon while the translation progressed, the gospel was being taught in seneca county, and hyrum smith, david whitmer, and peter whitmer, jr. These 11 witnesses included five sons of mary whitmer, one soninlaw, and one future soninlaw. A portion of the translation of the book of mormon was completed at the fayette, new york, farmhouse of peter and mary whitmer. Together with her husband she was baptized by oliver cowdery in seneca lake, april 18, 1830. Four women can be added as additional witnesses of the book of mormon.
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